JLL appoints Matt Bennion to Asia Pacific project role

JLL has appointed Matt Bennion as Head of Project and Development Services for Asia Pacific. He will be based in Singapore.

Bennion takes up the role with immediate effect, succeeding Martin Hinge, whose retirement was announced previously.

He will oversee the strategic direction and day-to-day execution of JLL's Project and Development Services business across Asia Pacific. The role also includes chairing the division's regional executive committee, shaping capital and M&A strategy in the region, and working with colleagues across the wider business.

The appointment puts Bennion at the centre of one of JLL's key real estate service lines in a region where demand for project delivery, development management and construction-related advisory work remains strong among corporate occupiers, investors and developers.

Regional brief

JLL's Project and Development Services business covers the full project lifecycle, from planning and design to construction delivery and optimisation. It serves sectors including offices, data centres, life sciences, industrial and logistics, retail, and hospitality.

Bennion will report to Cynthia Kantor, Global Chief Executive Officer for Project and Development Services, with a matrix reporting line to Susheel Koul, Chief Executive Officer, Real Estate Management Services, Asia Pacific.

His appointment follows a career of more than three decades in the built environment sector, including leadership roles in project management, construction, and business transformation across multiple markets.

Most recently, Bennion was Founding Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Thrive-AI, an intelligent buildings services provider. Before that, he was Chief Executive Officer of Reds10, where he developed the company's strategy and brand and repositioned the business around AI technology and volumetric modular construction.

Earlier in his career, he served as Chief Operating Officer and later Chief Executive Officer of Arcadis Asia from 2013 to 2018. During that period, he led a business of 4,500 people across 70 offices in 12 countries, while overseeing post-merger integration, digital transformation initiatives, and major regional accounts.

Management view

Koul outlined JLL's view of changing demand in the region.

"The sophistication of client requirements across Asia Pacific is evolving rapidly, with demand for best-in-class project and development services continuing to grow. Matt's deep regional expertise, client-centric approach, and proven track record in business transformation position our team well to stay ahead of that curve, expand our capabilities, and deliver innovative solutions for our clients across the region," said Susheel Koul, Chief Executive Officer, Real Estate Management Services, Asia Pacific, JLL.

The new role connects the regional business to JLL's global project and development structure, while also aligning it with the company's broader real estate management operations in Asia Pacific.

Kantor described the hire as part of the firm's leadership plans for the division.

"This strategic appointment underscores JLL's continued investment in leadership talent and its commitment to strengthening its market-leading position in project and development services across Asia Pacific. Furthermore, Matt will be a critical component in driving the execution of JLL's Accelerate 2030 strategy across the region, while overseeing the continued growth and transformation of the PDS business," said Cynthia Kantor, Global Chief Executive Officer for Project and Development Services, JLL.

JLL is one of the world's largest commercial real estate services groups, with annual revenue of USD $26.1 billion and operations in more than 80 countries. It had more than 113,000 employees worldwide at the end of 2025.

Across Asia Pacific, the appointment comes as real estate groups continue to place senior executives in roles tied to capital projects, workplace change, logistics expansion, data centre construction, and the decarbonisation of buildings. Bennion's background in smart buildings, construction strategy, and regional management suggests JLL is seeking a leader with experience spanning both operational delivery and business transformation.

He will now lead a business line that advises clients across the region on planning, design, construction management, programme management, development management, and technical advisory services.